Sheriff cracking down on Tahoe pot grows

The El Dorado County Sheriff’s Office is making it a priority to crack down on illegal marijuana grows in South Lake Tahoe, with deputies busting a dozen grows in the last four months. The crackdown comes as the sheriff’s office assumes control of the South Lake El Dorado Narcotics Enforcement Team, a multiagency law enforcement initiative that formerly was overseen by California Department of Justice.

Tom Lotshaw, Tahoe Daily Tribune | 2014-04-23

Deputies have seized thousands of marijuana plants, several dozen pounds of processed marijuana, tens of thousands of dollars in suspected drug money, several drug processing labs and made at least a dozen arrests, according to the sheriff’s office.

The crackdown comes as the sheriff’s office assumes control of the South Lake El Dorado Narcotics Enforcement Team, a multiagency law enforcement initiative that formerly was overseen by California Department of Justice.

“In the past, it hasn’t been pursued as aggressively as we would have liked. But we’ve agreed to really target the neighborhood indoor grows because it’s becoming such a problem. We’re doing several a week now,” Lt. Pete Van Arnum said.

The busted grows have been in rental homes in residential neighborhoods in the South Lake Tahoe area. Operations have ranged in size from ...

“It seems to be something the public is supporting. When we’re out taking down a house the neighbors will walk down and thank us, and say they’re frustrated with what is going on,” Van Arnum said. “People in the neighborhoods don’t want to tolerate this and we won’t either.” ...